Any seafarer knows that buying a boat is a huge investment and it can take some time to get from your initial concept to finally being out on the water. Here at Credit One, we like to make this process as smooth as possible. That is why we have come up with this handy 4-step guide to get you sailing sooner.
STEP 1: CHOOSING A BOAT
There’s a lot more to choosing a boat than just finding the right look. You need to consider what you’ll be using it for, how many people you intend to have on board, how much and what type of power you’ll be needing, as well as storage for your non-sailing days.
It also helps to consider what material your boat should be made of, whether you’re after a lightweight, aluminium-based craft or a more popular fibreglass- built vessel. Some boats can even be built with foam for added buoyancy.
If your primary goal is time spent out on the water trawling for trout with a couple of mates, you may consider a lightweight dinghy. Weekend wakeboarding with the family often calls for an aptly named wake boat. Or if racing or cruising is more your speed, you can’t go past a luxurious yacht.
Take some time and think about the important factors. Do your research and feel free to ask plenty of questions along the way.
STEP 2: FINANCE & INSURANCE
Now that you’ve chosen the boat of your dreams, you need to figure out how you’re going to pay for it. You can spend your time researching different banks, financiers and insurers, OR you can go to Australia’s best-rated finance broker who will take care of the hard work for you.
Credit One is Australia’s best-rated broker with over 500 5-star reviews on Google, and with good reason. Don’t just take our word for it, hear what our happy, new boat-owning, customers have to say.
Marie Whale recently sailed off into the sunset on her brand-new Sea Ray thanks to Credit One and couldn’t be happier. “I’d been looking at boats and brokers, doing a lot of research until I found one I was happy with. The entire process didn’t take very long to complete and I couldn’t have asked for more efficiency. Everything was taken care of over email, so I never had to step foot in a branch of a bank, and my broker Alan always kept in touch with what was happening. With Credit One I waited for nothing. It was a painless process.”
Finding the right type of finance at the best rate can be a monumental task, but when you go through a broker, they’ll do the hard work for you.
Mati Batsinilas has this to say. “I found Credit One through the marine dealership where I purchased my boat. I knew they had an amazing track record with helping clients reach their goals, and with that kind of assurance, I knew I was only a phone call away! Jarred at Credit One made my life incredibly easy and took the right measures to ensure the road I was travelling on was not a dead end. The process for me was a walk in the park.”
Leaving the financing process in the hands of your broker allows more time for daydreaming about the fun parts of buying a new boat. Like, what to name your new vessel and where to take it on her maiden voyage. A well-established company like Credit One will even have links to first class insurers and can help take care of that for you as well.
STEP 3: CHOOSING A NAME
The name of your boat says a lot about its personality and yours, so it’s important to put some thought into the naming process. We recommend picking a theme and making a list to whittle down to the perfect identifier. A few different themes to look at when naming your boat include boating and sea-based puns, emotive or romantic names, classic clichés, or choosing something personal. To assist in the journey, we’ve listed a few favourites from each category.
BOATING PUNS
Nothing says “I’m a smart and interesting person” more than a well-crafted pun. If you’re looking for a pun that’s going to make the most sense to deep-thinking intellectuals, we recommend something along the lines of “Tight Lipped”, because as we all know, loose lips sink ships! If you like the thought of Carpe Diem but find it a bit too on the nose, why not go with “Seas the Day”.
ROMANTIC NAMES
When purchasing a sea craft with your better half, a romantic name can be a good way to go. Just imagine christening your new vessel with a splash of champagne and announcing to the world the arrival of “The Love Boat”, “Happy Endings”, “The Great Escape” or “Living the Dream”.
CLASSIC CLICHÉS
Look over any list of boat names from the last ten years and you’re guaranteed to see a few of these. Whether it be “Serenity”, “Aquaholic”, “Second Wind” or “Freedom”, sometimes a cliché is a cliché for a reason. You can’t go wrong with a classic.
PERSONAL TOUCH
Picture you’re in a movie and about to sail you yacht off into the sunset. Can you see your name splashed across the bow? Some sailors opt to use their own last name, while others choose a family member such as a parent. If you don’t want to narrow down to just one relative “Ohana” and “Whanau” are both all encompassing, and have a certain romantic ring to them. You may also consider naming your boat after a person who has had great influence in your life, or in the process of getting you out to sea. Catamaran Alan or Dayboat Jarred anybody?
STAGE 4: MAIDEN VOYAGE
Once all the particulars are out of the way, you’re ready to hit the open ocean! There are plenty of resources out there to help plan your trip, whether you’re a seasoned sailor or heading out for the first time. If you’re recently retired and looking to get started on your next adventure check out OneAdventure.com.au/boating for some excellent articles to help get you going.
To get onto the sea sooner call the team at Credit One on 1300 Credit (1300 273 348) and we’ll get you started with pre-approval. You can also fill in an application online: www.boatsloansfinance.com.au. Email us at boats@creditone.com.au
